Enrollment options
Course image German: The Language
Basic German Records
Course Summary: Optional Print Course
Material: German: The
Language
Although North America, Australia, and New Zealand had a significant amount of German immigration, there may be resistance to using German records for genealogical research. The certain reason would seem to pertain to language. Simply put, English speakers are not as comfortable, or interested in, searching through records in a language other than English. This, of course, is not surprising. Add to the language barrier the fact that many German records are written in handwriting unfamiliar to most English-speakers, and the lack of popularity for German research is evident. However, the language does not have to be a barrier. English and German are closely related languages. One does not need to become fluent in the German language to be a good genealogist in German records. This course introduces the key information needed about the German language so researchers can be successful in reading German. Pronunciation of and writing in German is not generally necessary for genealogical research. The focus of this course will be in understanding written German from an English perspective. Another course will focus on understanding the various handwriting and printing styles used in German records.
Course Length: 7 weeks
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
Although North America, Australia, and New Zealand had a significant amount of German immigration, there may be resistance to using German records for genealogical research. The certain reason would seem to pertain to language. Simply put, English speakers are not as comfortable, or interested in, searching through records in a language other than English. This, of course, is not surprising. Add to the language barrier the fact that many German records are written in handwriting unfamiliar to most English-speakers, and the lack of popularity for German research is evident. However, the language does not have to be a barrier. English and German are closely related languages. One does not need to become fluent in the German language to be a good genealogist in German records. This course introduces the key information needed about the German language so researchers can be successful in reading German. Pronunciation of and writing in German is not generally necessary for genealogical research. The focus of this course will be in understanding written German from an English perspective. Another course will focus on understanding the various handwriting and printing styles used in German records.
Course Length: 7 weeks
Contact Hours: 18
Grading Scale: 70% Tests/30% Assignments
Course Length: 7 weeks
Course Content
MODULE 1
GERMAN LANGUAGE FROM AN ENGLISH PERSPECTIVE
Interchangeable Letters
Classes of Words
MODULE 2
GERMAN WORD LISTS & DICTIONARIES
Commercial German-English Dictionaries
German Word List
MODULE 3
GERMAN GRAMMAR
Nouns
Compound Words
Articles & Gender
Pronouns
Conjunctions
MODULE 4
GERMAN GRAMMAR...Continued
Prepositions
Adjectives
Verbs
Adverbs
MODULE 5
READING GERMAN CHURCH REGISTERS
Literal Translations
Multi-Stage Translation
MODULE 6
READING GERMAN PUBLISHED SOURCES
About automated translation
New Technology Introduced Google Translate
Other Translation Resources
MODULE 1
GERMAN LANGUAGE FROM AN ENGLISH PERSPECTIVE
Interchangeable Letters
Classes of Words
MODULE 2
GERMAN WORD LISTS & DICTIONARIES
Commercial German-English Dictionaries
German Word List
MODULE 3
GERMAN GRAMMAR
Nouns
Compound Words
Articles & Gender
Pronouns
Conjunctions
MODULE 4
GERMAN GRAMMAR...Continued
Prepositions
Adjectives
Verbs
Adverbs
MODULE 5
READING GERMAN CHURCH REGISTERS
Literal Translations
Multi-Stage Translation
MODULE 6
READING GERMAN PUBLISHED SOURCES
About automated translation
New Technology Introduced Google Translate
Other Translation Resources